Digitalis purpurea Monstrosa - Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea 'Monstrosa' is a truly extraordinary form of purple foxglove, possessing what is called a terminal flower mutation. This biennial plant is strange indeed, producing at the end of its floral stem one single enormous flower, widely open and fringed, speckled with purple on a white background, or sometimes completely white. Its flowers, spectacular in a vase, make a striking display in partially shaded summer beds where it particularly likes to grow and often self-seeds.

The 'Monstrosa' foxglove exists for reasons that are not clearly understood in nature, where it has been observed by botanists since the mid-19th century. Its unique characteristic creates an extremely interesting plant for biologists. It is a particular form of Digitalis purpurea, often considered a subspecies and named Digitalis purpurea subsp Campanulata. It is a plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is a short-lived perennial biennial plant, developing from spring onwards a rosette of modest size, 30 cm (12in) in diameter, with pubescent, dark green, dentate-crenate leaves, the lower surface of which is networked and sometimes covered with light, woolly hairs.  In the second year, in May-June, one or several hollow but sturdy stems emerge from the rosette to bear, depending on the growing conditions, a thin but dense floral stem composed of a multitude of tightly packed tubular flowers. At the top, there is a flower twice as large as the others, more upright towards the sky, widely open like a cup, with a dentate border. Depending on the plants, the outer part of the flowers is more or less purple or pink, sometimes white. The pink and purple forms bear an oversized flower heavily spotted with pink or purple on a white background. The flowering is melliferous and nectariferous. This variety self-seeds quite faithfully, without difficulty, and without being invasive.

Plant the Monstruosa foxglove in morning sun or partial shade, in humus-rich and moist soil, in the company of old roses or perennial plants with single flowers such as columbines, centaureas, astrancias or thalictrums. This amazing variety will allow you to enjoy its flowering for a long time at the edge of a grove or on the east side of the house. This strange plant will also accompany perennial geraniums, heucheras, and the feathery foliage of ferns in a light woodland. Take advantage of this rather fantastic flower in the house as well, by creating sumptuous bouquets.